For the press

Excerpt from the NULL22EINS interview with Adam Polczyk

How would you describe the concept behind the pottery art cafés in a few words?

Love, relaxation and fun! Time stands still when you paint. And in theory, the pieces you create outlive time. They often become personal keepsakes with a story of their own. I love thinking about how excited people are when they receive a mug or a plate as a gift that was made here. 95 percent of our guests actually say: “I can’t paint.” But they don’t need to be able to, to have fun with us. Our intention is not that everyone produces great works of art, but that people enjoy themselves and relax. And in the end everyone is a little proud of themselves and of what they have created.

What is behind it? How did you come up with the idea of opening a ceramic studio in Cologne?

I was a lawyer in Riga and at some point moved to London for work. There I had two hobbies: on the one hand I spent a lot of my free time with Japanese students. Opposite my flat there was a ceramic studio, where I spent just as much time and all my spare change. I followed my first passion, though, and shortly afterwards began studying Japanese studies in Cologne. But ceramics kept calling me back, so I regularly took the night bus to London just to paint.

And then you said to yourself: Cologne needs this too?

I really did ask myself: “Why is there no paint-your-own ceramic studio in Germany?” But I was not sure what to do. I told myself that as a foreign student I would never get a loan anyway. And precisely because of that I made the decision: I will apply for a loan!

And then?

They gave me the loan – unbelievable! So I built up my shop near the Mauritius church on the side. It practically financed my Japanese studies. After graduating I worked in an art dealership and realised: both at once is impossible, art dealing and the shop.

Today it is clear what you decided on. Why exactly the shop?

There was simply too much love in the shop already. I could not give it up. So in 2012 I decided to run pottery art café full-time.

Did you do everything on your own or did you have support?

I received support from all sides – friends, parents, even strangers who liked the idea helped out, sometimes for free. Everyone put a lot of energy into it. That was another reason why I had to keep pottery art café going. It almost feels like a second family.

What makes your café special?

In the shop I get the very best of this world! Most people come with their own story and create something for others. For example, a man sat here for two weeks painting a jug with the inscription “Marry Me”. Two years later his wife came and painted a mug for their second wedding anniversary. That is when I knew: the proposal back then was a success. It was very touching and describes what is special for me: people bring so much love into the shop. And this positive energy is, in a way, part of my pay.